RTPI Cymru's response to Gypsy and Travellers consultations
A Welsh Government consultation
On 19 May 2025, RTPI Cymru submitted a response to the Welsh Government consultation on Gypsy and Traveller accommodation assessments and guidance for designing sites and managing unauthorised encampments. Read the response below.
In relation to all consultations and the proposals they set out, it is important to recognise the significant pressure Local Authority teams are under. We remain concerned regarding capacity and resources in the system to delivery key ambitions in relation to planning for Gypsy and Travellers. Actions should be prioritised to support delivery, including training and development for practitioners, including sharing best practice, support with monitoring and data collection and improving linkage between all stakeholders.
Identifying and providing stopping sites is a challenge and requires cross boundary and or regional partnership working. However, even addressing these challenges at a larger scale still requires accurate data, which is a further challenge for Local Authorities. It is difficult to assess the level of need for transit sites, as levels increase and decrease due to a number of variables, in a way that an evidence-based trajectory can often not predict. Factual and transparent data, that is shared across the public sector would support Local Authorities address the challenges. While this response does not cover the consultation relating to updated guidance for managing Gypsy and Traveller sites, we note the role of ‘Site Manager’ set out in this consultation, (“The site manager employed by the local authority may be from within the Gypsy or Traveller community and may also live on site”) and question if this role could provide useful data to the Local Authority, as well as increasing engagement Gypsy and Traveller communities.
Clearly defining the role of Local Planning Authorities and other public sector teams in relation to accommodation assessments would support clarity in the process. We note the
draft guidance for undertaking Gypsy and Traveller accommodation assessments (Chapter 2) identifies that the Local Authority has the responsibility for deciding who should lead the Gypsy and Traveller accommodation assessments (GTAA) process. There are complex factors which may influence this process, for example, the GTAA needing to be published with an emerging Local Development Plan, in accordance with the consultation milestones for the Plan. Other Local Authority departments would need to be aware of this requirement and work with the LPA to meet their deadlines.
As a general point, in relation to the guidance on managing and designing sites, the guidance could provide further support to Local Authorities and other agencies, such as the police, highways etc. that are having to work together, taking a reactive stance.
